Maranta ∗ The 10 best care tips and varieties (arrowroot)

Origin and use

The arrowroot resp. Korbmarante - which is sometimes sold as colorful arrowroot - belongs to the arrowroot family (bot. Marantaceae). The plants grow in the tropical to subtropical rainforests of Central and South America. The basket marante, for example, comes from northern Brazil and, due to its need for warmth, can only be cultivated as a houseplant in our country. Only during the summer months are the ornamental foliage plants allowed to go out into the fresh air when the weather is appropriate and feel very comfortable there on the balcony or terrace.

Appearance and stature

The evergreen perennial grows upright, herbaceous and forms a dense eyrie. The long-stalked, large and strikingly drawn leaves of the Maranta drift straight out of the bulbous roots and hang over slightly. The basket margin is well suited for window sills, as it is only between 20 and a maximum of 30 centimeters high.

leaves

The oval to egg-shaped leaves of the basket margin are quite large with an average of ten to 15 centimeters. They are arranged alternately on the long stems and are conspicuously patterned with brownish to light green spots. The leaf veins, in turn, are red to pink in color. Young leaves typically curl up and grow upright before they finally unfold.

Blossoms and flowering period

With a bit of luck, the tiny white flowers of the Korbmarante appear between April and May. Compared to the leaves, however, these are quite inconspicuous and appear only rarely and only in older specimens.

fruit

Maranta species develop small capsule fruits after flowering, which, however, only appear very rarely in our latitudes. This is because fertilization by insects is necessary for this, but this rarely occurs in living room culture.

Toxicity

The basket marante is - like other arrowroot species - neither poisonous for humans nor for animals.

Which location is suitable?

It is not that easy to find the right location for the Maranta, as the tropical plant is for a healthy growth also as a houseplant comparable conditions as in the natural location demands. The perfect place is partially shaded, neither dark nor directly sunny. A lack of light leads to stunted growth, while an excess of sun rays in turn fades the beautiful leaf patterns.

In terms of temperatures, the Korbmarante feels most comfortable at a warm 23 to 25 degrees Celsius, which should also prevail almost all year round. It can only be a little cooler in winter, but the degrees should not fall below the 18 degree mark here either. In addition, the plant must be protected from the cold of the ground and drafts. On the other hand, the humidity should be at least 60 percent all year round, which is why it is best to put the basket marante in one bright bathroom or cultivate in a heated winter garden - here the required conditions are closest to realize.

Substrate

With regard to the potting soil, the Maranta is not quite as demanding as the location. Plant the crop in good humus-based potting soil - the higher the humus content, the better - and mix it in for better permeability Expanded clay(€ 16.35 at Amazon *) or perlite. Alternatively, you can with something Rhododendron soil Use mixed palm or potted soil as long as it does not contain peat. Marants generally prefer substrates with a slightly acidic pH value and a high content of nutrients.

Planting and repotting

Since the Korbmarante is one of the shallow roots, it is best to plant it in a shallow container. This absolutely needs good drainage so that excess irrigation water can run off and waterlogging does not arise in the first place. Special plant pots with an integrated one are best suited Irrigation system.(€ 99.95 at Amazon *) These make pouring over difficult, as the plants only take as much water as needed. One Hydroponics on the other hand, the tricky thing is: only young plants that grow in one from the beginning are suitable for this. Conversely, older plants should not be converted from soil to hydroponics.

Maranta do not have to be repotted annually. Only when the substrate is well rooted is it transferred to a slightly larger pot. Remove the adhering old soil as much as possible so that you can take a closer look at the roots. Be sure to cut away dried or rotten roots before replanting.

Pour Maranta

When it comes to watering, baskets are quite demanding, because the root ball should be kept as evenly moist as possible. Frequent bale dryness is just as bad for the plant as it is frequent wetness. Occasional drying, however, is tolerated. If you roll up the Maranta leaves sideways, this is a clear sign of a dried out root ball and should urgently be removed with the help of a watering can.

Only use water that is room temperature and low in lime for watering - for example well-stale or stale water. filtered tap water or collected rainwater - and provide the plant with plenty of it between April and October. On the other hand, watering can be done more sparingly between November and March.

Since the basket marante needs a high level of humidity all year round, you should either spray it daily with lime-free water or set up an indoor fountain. Alternatively, a shallow bowl filled with water can also help. Replace the liquid in it regularly to prevent algae from forming.

Fertilize the arrowroot properly

In the main vegetation period between April and October, provide the Maranta with a liquid fertilizer for green or indoor plants every four to six weeks. You administer this together with the irrigation water, alternatively you can also use one Slow release fertilizer in the form of, for example Fertilizer stick(€ 9.82 at Amazon *) can use. Only after repotting does the arrowroot need not be fertilized - just like during the winter months between November and March.

Cut the Maranta correctly

A pruning is not absolutely necessary, but you can shorten the cut-compatible plant by up to two thirds of its mass if necessary. It will then sprout again. This measure is necessary, for example, to remove old, unsightly, discolored and / or dried leaves. All you need is clean, sharp scissors.

Propagate Maranta

From spring to early summer you can propagate the Maranta by cuttings from the head. So that the rooting succeeds, it is best to proceed as follows:

• Cut approx. ten to 15 centimeters long, strong head cuttings.
• Separate this from the mother plant directly under a leaf knot.
• The new roots will sprout here later, so the leaf knot must be in the ground.
• Remove the leaves at the bottom.
• Fill a planter with Potting soil.
• Plant the cuttings in there.
• Moisten the substrate well.
• Place a translucent, cut-off PET bottle over the plant.
• Alternatively, you can use a plastic bag.
• However, the walls must not touch the plant.
• Place the container in a bright, but not directly sunny location.
• Keep the soil slightly moist.
• Ventilate for at least an hour every day.

The small Maranta take root within five to six weeks and can then be transferred to a suitable substrate and, if necessary, a larger container.

Overwinter

Maranta also needs temperatures of at least 20 degrees Celsius during the long, dark winter months. Under no circumstances should the degrees fall below 15 degrees Celsius. Now water a lot less, but don't let the plant dry out. Only from March is water gradually increased again. Fertilization can also be omitted in winter. Provide the plant with regular nutrients as soon as it shows the first new shoots in spring.

Diseases and pests

Anyone who, like the Korbmarante, has such high demands on their location and maintenance, will also quickly indicate if something does not suit them:

• Curled leaves, often with brown leaves, indicate a location that is too cold and / or too dark
• Blotchy leaves arise when the irrigation water contains lime - this is deposited in the foliage
• in a location that is too sunny, on the other hand, the leaves quickly fade

Pests such as Spider mites or thrips, on the other hand, mainly occur when the humidity is too low. If you increase this, the pests often disappear by themselves. As a first aid measure, first give the basket a vigorous shower.

Species and varieties

Of the Marante leuconeura species, which is primarily cultivated as an indoor plant, four different cultivars are offered in addition to the species.

• 'Erythroneura': elongated leaves that are emerald green in color and beautifully marked with white and dark green spots. The underside of the leaf is colored purple, as are the side veins
• 'Fascinator': Probably the most commonly cultivated as houseplant variety with strong green, darker spotted leaves, light green midrib and reddish colored leaf veins
• 'Kerchoviana': beautiful variety with emerald green leaves that have numerous dark green and dark brown spots to the left and right of the midrib. Underside of leaf blue-green with red spots
• 'Massangeana': pretty, small leaves of spotted, olive-green coloring and with lighter-tinted leaf margins, the central rib is also lighter, the underside of the leaf is dark purple-red

The Maranta cristata species can also be cared for as a houseplant, but it is far less common. It is also known as two-tone marante and has so far only been known to lovers.